They say action is needed as such a significant number of people have autism – one in every hundred or around 700,000 nationally – and many are excluded from their own communities through lack of understanding.

They have already recruited a number of high-profile organisations to become Liverpool Autism Champions. These include Everton FC, Liverpool John Lennon airport, National Museums Liverpool and the leisure and retail destination Liverpool ONE.

Other champions in the city include ten council-run Lifestyles fitness centres, Merseytravel, New Mersey shopping park, soft play centre Mattel Play and the Signature Living hotel group.

The regional project is backed by Connect to Autism, a Department of Health-funded scheme being rolled out nationally by the Autism Alliance, a network of 18 autism charities. It is also backed by the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce.

Awareness and understanding

The scheme aims to increase awareness and understanding of autism across the UK.

To become an Autism Champion, an organisation makes a public commitment to train its staff in autism awareness. This includes how to recognise the signs that someone may have autism and how to handle challenging behaviour.

Champions are also taught about the different ways people with autism can choose to communicate. For example, if someone is non-verbal they may communicate via a voice app on an iPad.

‘Incredibly ambitious for Liverpool ’

“We’re currently working with colleagues in the autism community to develop a nationwide set of criteria to define what we mean by an autism-friendly city. At the very least, we believe it should enable those with autism to confidently access community infrastructure such as shopping centres, tourist attractions and public transport.”

Julie Simpson, founder of Autism Adventures and a driving force behind the Merseyside campaign, said: “The reason I want to do something is I want my son Joe, who is 12, to have somewhere to play, eat or shop.

‘Someone told me he needed a good smack’

“I have had everything said by people over the years about Joe. Someone told me once that he needed a good smack.

“The only way to change people’s perception is by educating them and raising awareness of the condition.”

Champions will be encouraged to make small adjustments to their premises to improve access to those with autism. They may advertise a quiet space for people experiencing anxiety, or agree to clearer signage or less glaring lighting.

‘Fair and inclusive city’

Jenny Stewart, chief executive of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, said: “Our city councillors are working hard to make Liverpool a fair and inclusive city and we’re doing all we can to support this very worthwhile project, as we are all wanting Liverpool to head in the same direction, with equal community access available to all.”

Elsewhere in the UK, under the Connect to Autism scheme:

In the North East, library staff, leisure centre staff and doctors and health centre staff have been trained in autism awareness, as have staff at tourist attractions Digger Land and Victorian museum Beamish. Football clubs Sunderland AFC and Newcastle United have also joined the scheme.

In the West Midlands, Birmingham Town Hall Symphony Hall, Midlands Art Centre, and public transport company Centro have agreed to be Autism Champions.